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Sometimes I feel like I have to take so many opioids to control my pain. With all the publicity recently, the fact that I take 4 percocet a day and beginning on Friday I'll be taking morphine 3x per day!

May 18, 2016
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Answer Summary

Members shared deep frustration about the amount of pain medication needed to manage rheumatoid arthritis and related conditions, with many... Read more

Members shared deep frustration about the amount of pain medication needed to manage rheumatoid arthritis and related conditions, with many describing the exhausting daily routine of managing multiple pills, remembering schedules, and dealing with locked pill boxes to keep medications away from grandchildren. Several members expressed anger at doctors who hesitate to prescribe adequate pain relief despite the reality of chronic, incurable conditions, with many finding relief only through pain management specialists who understand chronic pain better than general practitioners. A recurring theme was the emotional toll of feeling judged or labeled as addicts due to negative media coverage of opioids, even though members emphasized they take these medications not by choice but out of necessity to function and survive daily life with debilitating pain.

A myRAteam Member

I have a big problem with it! I am tired of having a pill factory beside my bed every day and night. I am tired of having to make sure the box they are in is locked so my grandchildren can't get into them. I am sick and tired of having to remember what time to take which pill. I am not an experiment to see if things work. I am a person who has a disease that those stupid pills can't fix and rarely does much to touch the pain. I have basically taken myself off of most of my medicine. I take only the ones I know that I can't be without (blood pressure and few others). The doctors know I am body resistant to the medicines, so why do they keep pushing them on me? I have started to take a stand. I will try something for a period of time to see if it works, if not it goes out the window. I will no longer waste my time and money on the useless things. Sorry. Rant is now over. I just get very angry about this.

May 18, 2016
A myRAteam Member

DonnaL, Thank you! We need to stand up for ourselves. I think that we are cheap test lab rats who pay through the nose for our health care and the medicines. I always say to the doctor just give me enough to get through the month and no more. I will call you if it helps. I have refused anything that needs to be put inside my body by a needle. My family has too many issues with cancer. That is one thing I don't need or want to fool with. I watched what my little sister had to deal with. I don't have the strength that she did. On top of that, I am tired of being a pin cushion too. I guess I am being "non-compliant", but daggone it, it's my body that has to deal with this not my doctor's! Some days I think I would rather hurt, grit my teeth and bear it. But, that what we do, learn to deal with this stuff on our own.

May 19, 2016
A myRAteam Member

my docs have been really sensitive to my needs and I don't think I've been prescribed anything I don't need. Right now we're still trying to find the balance that makes me comfortable enough to function!

Thanks for your response, Kris, I tryly appreciate you!

May 18, 2016
A myRAteam Member

Yes, I have qualms about the amount of pain meds I have to take, but I resent the CDC and the former FDA director referring to any chronic pain patient as an addict insulting. My son has convinced me to have a face to face meeting with my senators to put a human "face" on the average chronic pain patient. The first thing, stop referring to us as addicts! We did NOT ask our bodies to turn on us. Sorry for the rant, it just makes my blood boil when they pass laws and don't do due diligence.
I do have qualms but they do not stop me because I still remember how bad I felt during my last bad flare. I prefer being able to walk and if that means opiates then I will take opiates.

May 18, 2016
A myRAteam Member

I have finally put my foot down on the medications. I am not a pill factory. I won't do it anymore. I am body resistant to drugs that they give me to help with the pain. Why give me more when they don't help? I will not waste my money anymore. I will try certain medicines for a month. If they don't help me within a month forget it! I have started asking if the doctor has samples too. I will take them first then decide whether or not I will take them. I am so tired of having to remember what pill at what time of day. I am not a fan at all of the medicines. I would rather hurt than have side effects.

May 25, 2016

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